Written by Michael Lewis
CARLSTADT, N.J. – The Long Island Rough Riders women continued their hot start to the USL W League season with another big victory on Saturday afternoon.
The Rough Riders remained unbeaten in four matches with a 5-1 win over Cedar Stars Academy at the Capelli Sports Complex.
Gianna Paul registered a hat-trick, while Athina Safroniou and Luciana Setteducate also found the net for Long Island (4-0-0, 12 points), which took over the Metropolitan Division lead. Cedar Starts (2-1-2, 8) is in third place.
“The girls showed their maturity and quality after going 1-0 down to show good character and come back 5-1 up,” head coach Matt Lannon said. “Overall a class performance “
After the Rough Riders conceded only their second goal of the season in the opening 10 minutes, the visitors found the range and then some with a rotation in the front three allowed Paul to equalize shortly thereafter.
Safroniou headed home a corner kick to lift Long Island into a 2-1 lead that it would never relinquish.
Paul then grabbed the spotlight, with a header and before completing her hat-trick.
Setteducate scored the fifth and final goal with a cheeky chip shot over the goalkeeper.
After several substitutions, an energized Rough Riders side continued to attack and just as importantly, kept Cedar Stars from scoring.
Long Island has outscored its opposition this season by an astounding 32-2 margin.
The Rough Riders started their season with an 8-0 home victory over the Westchester Flames on May 19. Then they played their next three matches on the road, registering an 11-1 win at the Manhattan Soccer Club on May 23, an 8-0 triumph at AC Connecticut on May 29, and Saturday’s result.
The Rough Riders return home to the friendly confines of Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y., when they host Manhattan SC on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m.